At first glance this may look like any other clothing hook but, as Monroe County, FL Sheriff's Deputies have warned, these are "spy hook" and they are anything but normal.

These purported clothing hooks are potentially sinister devices that contain a hidden camera capable of spying on people during vunerable moments (such as when you are getting undressed, going to the bathroom or are involved in intimate behaviors, alone or with company) and when privacy is reasonably expected.

After three of these spy hooks were discovered in women's bathrooms police have issued a warning to be aware of and to avoid hooks that like these, and for the public to report them if they see them in public toilets and dressing rooms. Per the Florida Keys' (Monroe County) Sheriff's Office: "Anyone who has a public restroom on their property needs to check them closely. If you find anything suspicious you think might contain a hidden camera, don't touch it. Call us right away and we will respond. Keep in mind, though, that these are very small cameras that can be mounted in many locations and hidden in many seemingly every-day items."

If it is hard wired into a power source then the "Spy Hook" can run so long as there is power, while battery operated models reportedly have a 2 hour battery life (note that the batteries only drain when the camera is running, which occurs either when the switch is manually triggered or when recording is triggered by something being hung on the hook). From there a MicroSD card preserves the footage and any pervert can simply take the card out, pop it into a computer and have all of the images readily available for any of a number of potential nefarious purposes.

Memo to the Folks: Voyeurism is loosely defined as secretly spying on others while they are engaged in intimate behaviors, such as getting undressed or during some form of sexual activity, and common synonyms for “voyeur” are “Peeping Tom” and “pervert”. In FL you violate F.S. 810.14 and you are a voyeur if you: 1) Secretly observe another; 2) With a lewd, lascivious or indecent intent; 3) While the person being observed had a reasonable expectation of privacy. Video Voyeurism is found at F.S. 810.145 and in order to be convicted the State must prove the following 4 elements: 1) You either used or installed, or you permitted to be used or installed, a device that is used to secretly view, broadcast or record, for your own or another’s amusement, entertainment, sexual arousal, gratification or profit, or to degrade or abuse the person being recorded; 2) That the victim was viewed, broadcast or recorded at a time when the victim’s body was privately exposed; 3) That this occurred at a place and time when the victim had a reasonable expectation of privacy; and 4) That the viewing, broadcast or recording was done without the victim’s knowledge or consent.

Memo to the Folks continued: Watch HaberPA's VideoFAQ / YouTube Webisode on "What is Voyeurism in FL?" at https://youtu.be/Y6N2gIqrvP8 or by clicking on the video link below.

Memo to the Folks continued: Watch HaberPA's VideoFAQ / YouTube Webisode on "What is Video Voyeurism in FL?" at https://youtu.be/kaXFf2igz70 or by clicking on the video link below.

Memo to the Folks continued: I hope that you will watch some of my other VideoFAQ / Webisodes, that you will enjoy them and that they will be helpful to you. (You can access HaberPA's YouTube Channel by clicking here.)At present I have 184 Criminal Defense, DUI and BUI VideoFAQ / Webisodes (that I try to keep under 2 minutes) and I am constantly scripting more. Should you have a ‎CriminalDefense‬, DUI or ‪BUI‬ question that you would like for me to address and answer then please feel free to ask (you can email me at sharky910@aol.com, call or text my cell 305-798-2220, IM me on Facebook at HaberPA, IM me on Twitter @Sharky910 or even message me right here on YouTube at MichaelHaberLaw) and I will try to provide you with a video answer on a new HaberPA Webisode / VideoFAQ!

When it comes to the subject of "Cops, Courts and Constitutions" you should always have a skilled and experienced criminal defense attorney who is focused on serving your interests. While we can't stop the cops from arresting you, as your legal counsel Michael A. Haber, PA will ensure that your rights are respected from the moment that representation begins and that any abuses which may have occurred beforehand are remedied.

THIS BLOG POST (AS ARE ALL OF HABERPA BLOG POSTS) IS A PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT WHICH IS PRIMARILY DESIGNED, BY WAY OF REAL WORLD EXAMPLE, TO ASSIST THE GENERAL PUBLIC IN AVOIDING CONDUCT WHICH COULD FORESEEABLY RESULT IN ARREST AND PROSECUTION!